Matthew 22
22
Parable of the Wedding Feast
1As was his custom, Jesus continued to teach the people by using allegories. 2He illustrated the reality of heaven’s kingdom realm by saying, “There once was a king who arranged an extravagant wedding feast for his son. # 22:2 See Isa. 25:6–8. 3On the day the festivities were set to begin, he sent his servants # 22:3 God is the king who prepares his kingdom feast for his Son, Jesus Christ. The messenger-servants are the prophets he sends to summon the people to enter into the love feast of Jesus. It is all about the wedding of the Lamb to the bride of Christ. What a glorious feast is prepared for us! to summon all the invited guests, but they chose not to come. 4So the king sent even more servants to inform the invited guests, saying, ‘Come, for the sumptuous feast is now ready! The oxen and fattened cattle have been killed and everything is prepared, so come! Come to the wedding feast for my son and his bride!’
5“But the invited guests were not impressed. One was preoccupied with his business; another went off to his farming enterprise. 6And the rest seized the king’s messengers and shamefully mistreated them, and even killed them. 7This infuriated the king! So he sent his soldiers to execute those murderers and had their city burned to the ground. # 22:7 This was fulfilled by the Roman prince Titus (who eventually became emperor of Rome) in the Roman war of AD 67–70.
8“Then the king said to his servants, ‘The wedding feast is ready, yet those who had been invited to attend didn’t deserve the honor. 9Now I want you to go into the streets and alleyways # 22:9 The Aramaic is “go to the ends of the roads.” and invite anyone and everyone you find to come and enjoy the wedding feast in honor of my son.’
10“So the servants went out into the city streets and invited everyone to come to the wedding feast, good and bad alike, until the banquet hall was crammed with people! 11Now, when the king entered the banquet hall, he looked with glee over all his guests. But then he noticed a guest who was not wearing the wedding robe provided for him. # 22:11 Those invited to come from the streets had no opportunity to buy wedding clothes. This wedding robe is a picture of the garment of righteousness that grace provides for us. The man without the wedding garment had one provided, but he didn’t want to change into new clothes. A change is necessary, for our King provides garments of white linen for us to wear, our wedding garments. See Isa. 52:1; Rev. 19:8. 12So he said, ‘My friend, how is it that you’re here and you’re not wearing your wedding garment?’ But the man was speechless.
13“Then the king turned to his servants and said, ‘Tie him up and throw him into the outer darkness, # 22:13 The Hebrew Matthew is “the lowest hell [sheol].” where there will be great sorrow, with weeping and grinding of teeth.’ 14For everyone is invited # 22:14 Or “Many are called.” This can be understood to be a Semitic figure of speech that universalizes the invitation. See also Matt. 20:28. to enter in, but few respond in excellence.” # 22:14 The Greek word eklektoi can mean “chosen,” but it can also be translated “worthy,” “pure,” “choice,” “excellent.” See 2 John 1, 13.
The Pharisees Try to Entrap Jesus
15Then the Pharisees came together to make a plan to entrap Jesus with his own words. 16So they sent some of their disciples together with some staunch supporters of Herod. # 22:16 The Hebrew Matthew is “They took violent men from Herod.” The Aramaic is “They took men from Herod’s household.” By bringing with them loyalists to Rome (Herodians), the Pharisees were convinced that Jesus would offend either the Jews, who despised paying the “poll tax” required of every adult male, or those political followers of Herod who sided with the Roman occupation. They said to Jesus, “Teacher, we know that you’re an honest man of integrity and you teach us the truth of God’s ways. We can clearly see that you’re not one who speaks only to win the people’s favor, because you speak the truth without regard to the consequences. # 22:16 Or “You don’t look into the faces of men [before you speak the truth].” 17So tell us, then, what you think. Is it proper for us Jews to pay taxes to Caesar or not?”
18Jesus knew the malice that was hidden behind their cunning ploy and said, “Why are you testing me, you imposters who think you have all the answers? 19Show me one of the Roman coins.” So they brought him a silver coin used to pay the tax. 20“Now, tell me, whose head is on this coin and whose inscription is stamped on it?”
21“Caesar’s,” they replied.
Jesus said, “Precisely, for the coin bears the image of the emperor Caesar. # 22:21 Actual coins from that era have been found with the emperor’s image and a superscription saying, “Tiberius Caesar Augustus, son of the divine Augustus.” Well, then, you should pay the emperor what is due to the emperor. But because you bear the image of God, # 22:21 The coin belongs to Caesar because it carries his image. We have an obligation to God because we carry his image. give back to God all that belongs to him.”
22The imposters were baffled in the presence of all the people. When they realized once again that they were unable to trap Jesus, they went away stunned.
Marriage and the Resurrection
23Some of the Sadducees, a religious group that denied there was a resurrection of the dead, # 22:23 The Aramaic clearly states that the Sadducees said to Jesus, “There is no life after death.” came to ask Jesus this question: 24“Teacher, the law of Moses teaches that if a man dies before he has children, his brother should marry the widow and raise up children for his brother’s family line. # 22:24 See Deut. 25:5–10. 25Now, there was a family with seven brothers. The oldest got married but soon died, leaving his widow for his brother. 26The second brother married and also died, and the third also. This was repeated down to the seventh brother, 27when finally the woman also died. So here’s our dilemma: 28Which of the seven brothers will be the woman’s husband when she’s resurrected from the dead, since they all were once married to her?”
29Jesus answered them, “You are deluded, because your hearts are not filled with the revelation of the Scriptures or the power of God. 30For after the resurrection, men and women will not marry, just like the angels of heaven don’t marry. 31Haven’t you read what God said: 32‘I am the Living God, # 22:32 As translated from the Aramaic and implied in the Greek. the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob’? God is not the God of the dead, but of the living.” # 22:32 The implication Jesus is making is that Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob were all alive (in glory) when God spoke to Moses in the burning bush. See Ex. 3:6.
33When the crowds heard this they were dazed and astonished over his teaching! # 22:33 As translated from the Hebrew Matthew. The Greek is “teaching.”
The Greatest Commandment
34When the Pharisees heard that Jesus had silenced the Sadducees, they called a meeting to discuss how to trap Jesus. 35Then one of them, a religious scholar, posed this question to test him: 36“Teacher, which commandment in the law is the greatest?”
37Jesus answered him, “ ‘Love # 22:37 The Hebrew Matthew is “worship,” also quoted as “worship” by Justin Martyr (ca. AD 165), First Apology XXI. the Lord your God with every passion of your heart, with all the energy of your being, and with every thought that is within you.’ # 22:37 Or “with all your mind.” See Deut. 6:5. 38This is the great and supreme commandment. 39And the second is like it in importance: ‘You must love your friend # 22:39 As translated from the Aramaic word kareb, which means “one who is close to you” (emotionally or by proximity). The Greek is “neighbor.” in the same way you love yourself.’ # 22:39 See Lev. 19:18. 40Contained within these commandments to love you will find all the meaning of the Law and the Prophets.”
Jesus, Son of David—Lord of David
41While all the Pharisees were gathered together, Jesus took the opportunity to pose a question of his own: 42“What do you think about the Anointed One? Whose son is he?”
“The son of David,” they replied.
43Then Jesus said to them, “How is it that David, inspired by the Holy Spirit, could call his son the Lord? For didn’t he say:
44The Lord said to my Lord,
‘Sit beside me in the place of authority
until I subdue all your enemies under your feet’? # 22:44 See Ps. 110:1, which is the Old Testament passage of Scripture most often quoted in the New Testament.
45“So how could David call his own son ‘the Lord’?” # 22:45 As translated from the Aramaic. To those who insisted on only interpreting the Scriptures literally, Jesus was proving there was a deeper spiritual interpretation. To say the Messiah would be the Son of David means that the Anointed One would manifest the qualities and devotion that David walked in. A true “spiritual” son of David.
46No one could come up with an answer. And from that day on none of the Pharisees had the courage to question Jesus any longer.
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Matthew 22: TPT
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Learn More About The Passion TranslationMatthew 22
22
The Parable of the Wedding Feast
(Lk 14.15–24)
1Jesus again used parables in talking to the people. 2“The Kingdom of heaven is like this. Once there was a king who prepared a wedding feast for his son. 3He sent his servants to tell the invited guests to come to the feast, but they did not want to come. 4So he sent other servants with this message for the guests: ‘My feast is ready now; my bullocks and prize calves have been butchered, and everything is ready. Come to the wedding feast!’ 5But the invited guests paid no attention and went about their business: one went to his farm, another to his shop, 6while others grabbed the servants, beat them, and killed them. 7The king was very angry; so he sent his soldiers, who killed those murderers and burnt down their city. 8Then he called his servants and said to them, ‘My wedding feast is ready, but the people I invited did not deserve it. 9Now go to the main streets and invite to the feast as many people as you find.’ 10So the servants went out into the streets and gathered all the people they could find, good and bad alike; and the wedding hall was filled with people.
11 “The king went in to look at the guests and saw a man who was not wearing wedding clothes. 12‘Friend, how did you get in here without wedding clothes?’ the king asked him. But the man said nothing. 13#Mt 8.12; 25.30; Lk 13.28Then the king told the servants, ‘Tie him up hand and foot, and throw him outside in the dark. There he will cry and grind his teeth.’ ”
14And Jesus concluded, “Many are invited, but few are chosen.”
The Question about Paying Taxes
(Mk 12.13–17; Lk 20.20–26)
15The Pharisees went off and made a plan to trap Jesus with questions. 16Then they sent to him some of their disciples and some members of Herod's party. “Teacher,” they said, “we know that you tell the truth. You teach the truth about God's will for people, without worrying about what others think, because you pay no attention to anyone's status. 17Tell us, then, what do you think? Is it against our Law to pay taxes to the Roman Emperor, or not?”
18Jesus, however, was aware of their evil plan, and so he said, “You hypocrites! Why are you trying to trap me? 19Show me the coin for paying the tax!”
They brought him the coin, 20and he asked them, “Whose face and name are these?”
21“The Emperor's,” they answered.
So Jesus said to them, “Well, then, pay the Emperor what belongs to the Emperor, and pay God what belongs to God.”
22When they heard this, they were amazed; and they left him and went away.
The Question about Rising from Death
(Mk 12.18–27; Lk 20.27–40)
23 #
Acts 23.8
That same day some Sadducees came to Jesus and claimed that people will not rise from death. 24#Deut 25.5“Teacher,” they said, “Moses said that if a man who has no children dies, his brother must marry the widow so that they can have children who will be considered the dead man's children. 25Now, there were seven brothers who used to live here. The eldest got married and died without having children, so he left his widow to his brother. 26The same thing happened to the second brother, to the third, and finally to all seven. 27Last of all, the woman died. 28Now, on the day when the dead rise to life, whose wife will she be? All of them had married her.”
29Jesus answered them, “How wrong you are! It is because you don't know the Scriptures or God's power. 30For when the dead rise to life, they will be like the angels in heaven and will not marry. 31Now, as for the dead rising to life: haven't you ever read what God has told you? He said, 32#Ex 3.6‘I am the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob.’ He is the God of the living, not of the dead.”
33When the crowds heard this, they were amazed at his teaching.
The Great Commandment
(Mk 12.28–34; Lk 10.25–28)
34When the Pharisees heard that Jesus had silenced the Sadducees, they came together, 35#Lk 10.25–28and one of them, a teacher of the Law, tried to trap him with a question. 36“Teacher,” he asked, “which is the greatest commandment in the Law?”
37 #
Deut 6.5
Jesus answered, “ ‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.’ 38This is the greatest and the most important commandment. 39#Lev 19.18The second most important commandment is like it: ‘Love your neighbour as you love yourself.’ 40The whole Law of Moses and the teachings of the prophets depend on these two commandments.”
The Question about the Messiah
(Mk 12.35–37; Lk 20.41–44)
41When some Pharisees gathered together, Jesus asked them, 42“What do you think about the Messiah? Whose descendant is he?”
“He is David's descendant,” they answered.
43 “Why, then,” Jesus asked, “did the Spirit inspire David to call him ‘Lord’? David said,
44 #
Ps 110.1
‘The Lord said to my Lord:
Sit here on my right
until I put your enemies under your feet.’
45 If, then, David called him ‘Lord’, how can the Messiah be David's descendant?”
46No one was able to give Jesus any answer, and from that day on no one dared to ask him any more questions.
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Good News Bible. Scripture taken from the Good News Bible (r) (Today's English Version Second Edition, UK/British Edition). Copyright © 1992 British & Foreign Bible Society. Used by permission.